Shoe-lace fastener



No. 6l3,4l6. Patented Nov. 1, |a9a.- w. E. HEATH. SHOE- LACE FASTENEB.

A lication filed Supt. 13, 1897.)

-(No Model.)

INVENTOR V fffi w 7% NEYS WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

WILLIAM E. HEATH, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SHOE-LACE FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,416, dated November 1, 1898.

Application filed fieptember 13, 1897- fierial No. 651,444. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM E. HEATH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Shoe-Lace Fastener, of which the following is a clear and full description.

My invention relates to shoe-lace fasteners, and has for its object the providing of means whereby the ends of the laces after having been tied can be held snugly against the side of the shoe. 7

The invention will be more fullydescribed hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of a shoe having my improved. fastener connected therewith. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of my fastener, and Fig. 3 is also an enlarged view of the traveling clamp which I employ.

In the drawings, A represents a shoe employing lace-fastenings. In this instance the usual lacings common to all shoes are shown.

B are laces which. are passed through the shoe and fastened after having been looped v around the different hooks at the top in the ordinary bow style.

Secured to the inner side of the shoe and adjacent to the top thereof, preferably so that its upper edge is nearly flush with the top of the shoe, is a bar 0, which for clearness I designate as a track-bar, and which has formed on its ends and also, if preferred, upon one edge, near its middle, pointed lugs or teeth E, adapted to be pushed into the shoe and bent over to clasp the bar to the inside of the shoe, the bar being of such flexible material as to easily accommodate itself to the inside of the shoe. Where the points are placed on the edge of the bar, one edge only should be provided with the points, leaving the other edge free of the shoe. The bar is preferably flattened and has mounted thereupon acollar F, which collar, however, does not entirely surround the same, being opened at its upper end or at the end covering the edge of the bar which is providedrwith the pointed lugs where the lugs are used at one edge of the bar. The collar is free to slide back and forth upon the bar, its end being left open,

as above described, in order that the side lugs will not interfere with its movement. Secured to the collar and preferably formed integrally therewith is a spring clamp or hook, which, extending upwardly, passes out over the top edge of the shoe and is bent down, so that its lower end presses against the outer surface of the leather. The ends of the lace are then passed beneath this springclamp, where they are held in their proper position until disengaged by the wearer.

Owing to the unequal length of the various makes of laces, it will be found that some laces form larger bows than others when tied. By sliding the collar back and forth on the bar the device may be adjusted'to receive and hold the various lengths of laces. The bar is preferably made of flexible material, possessing yet such strength as to prevent it being easily broken, thus allowing the shoe to be snugly laced about the ankle, while at the same time the wearer will not be subjected to any inconvenience by reason of the bar.

Having thus described my invention, I declare that what I claim is- 1. The combination with a shoe, of a trackbar, means for securing the same to the shoe, a collar mounted upon said bar and adapted .to slide thereon, and a hook carried by said collar and extending up over the top of the shoe, the point of said hook being adapted to clamp the shoe-lace against the side of the shoe, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a shoe, of a trackbar, said bar having end and side lugs adapted to engage the side of the shoe, a collar adapted to slide on said bar and having one end open'to permit the passage of said lug or lugs, and a spring-hook carried by said collar and extending up over the top of the shoe, the point of said hook being adapted to clamp the shoe-lace against the side of the shoe, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 

